Archive for May 21st, 2009

Canon U.S.A., Inc., and The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children recently took the field to help raise greater awareness of issues related to locating missing children. It will be Canon’s sixth annual promotional night at Yankee Stadium, when the Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles.

During the pre-game ceremony, Mark Haga, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Canon U.S.A., presented John Walsh, co-founder of NCMEC and host of the television series “America’s Most Wanted,” with a $575,000 check, representing the cumulative amount of money donated by Canon U.S.A..

“Canon’s continued commitment to protecting children is reflected in our corporate philosophy, Kyosei – all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future,” said Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer, Canon U.S.A. “We are very proud that Canon has worked with NCMEC and the New York Yankees to bring into focus the many ways digital cameras, printers and photos can play a key role in helping to locate missing children. To date, Canon’s support of NCMEC has contributed to the recovery of 336 missing children.”

For more than a decade, Canon U.S.A. and NCMEC, who are celebrating 25 years of recovering children, have collaborated to educate the public about the growing issue of missing children. The Canon4Kids program sponsored by Canon U.S.A. and NCMEC, donates products to help law enforcement quickly disseminate photos and information about missing children, produces Public Service Announcements with missing children photos, and educates parents about tips for taking and maintaining updated photos of their children.

“A good current photograph is the single most important tool in the search for a missing child,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “This is why we are so grateful that Canon, a leader in digital imaging, is working so closely with us. Through photography, technology and education, Canon and NCMEC are saving lives, keeping children safe and reuniting families.”

As part of the Canon4Kids program, more than 1,925 pieces of donated Canon equipment (digital cameras, fax-phones, printers and scanners) have been distributed to law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The program also includes the placement of public service announcements with photographs of missing children in newspapers and magazines across the country to help in the recovery process.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenThe National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2,377,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 138,500 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 685,700 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 22,761,000 child pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its Web site .

About Canon’s Sponsorship of the New York Yankees
Canon has been a sponsor of the New York Yankees since 2000. In 2004, Canon increased its presence at Yankee Stadium with a sign on the left field outfield wall, further enhancing its brand presence for millions of fans. In addition, Canon continues to receive exposure on rotating signage behind home plate. Canon’s sponsorship also includes the designation as “Official Digital Camera, Copier, SLR Camera and Printer of the New York Yankees.”